Clare baseball sees JPC title hopes dashed

Clare played at Meridian on Thursday, May 16 in a Jack Pine Conference baseball doubleheader that decided the league championship.
The Mustangs walked away JPC champs behind 2-0 and 3-2 victories.

Hunter Ruby suffered the loss for the Pioneers, pitching six innings, giving up two runs on three hits.

The Pioneers had just three hits on offense, two of which came off the bat of Garrett Jenkins and the other off of James Baer.
Colton Punches suffered the hard-luck loss on the mound in the nightcap, though Punches had a double and a single to lead Clare’s offense in the nightcap, Baer and Conner Clickner both had doubles and Matt Magnus, Brock Swan and Jenkins had one hit apiece. Swan added two RBI.

Meridian finished with a 13-0-1 league record while the Pioneers finished 12-2.

On Saturday, Clare played at the Glen Lake tournament, topping host Glen Lake 1-0 and Pine River 4-0.

Charlie Bugbee earned the win for the Pioneers, pitching five innings and giving up just one hit and struck out five batters.
Magnus had two hits in the game to lead Clare with Logan Emery and Ruby also getting one hit.

Bugby, Punches and Ruby all pitched in the game, combining for seven strikeouts and giving up six hits.
Bugbee had two hits, Baer, Swan, Ruby and Chris Dysinger all had one hit apiece.